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10 patient evaluations for Prednisone taken for the purpose of 'systemic lupus erythematosus'

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May 3, 2015 (Started Oct 06, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (rashes (redness, swelling))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take

Mar 15, 2015 (Started Oct 06, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (rashes (redness, swelling))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 10 mg Daily
  • 0 helpful marks

Feb 17, 2014 (Started Dec 20, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for inflammation)
  • Side effects
    Severe (facial swelling/puffiness, weight gain, high blood pressure (hypertension), fluid retention weight gain, bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 24 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: BP is high..need to taper down
Cost: < $25 monthly

Feb 12, 2014 (Started Dec 20, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for inflammation)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (facial swelling/puffiness, weight gain, high blood pressure (hypertension), fluid retention weight gain, bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 24 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This drug is a double edged sword. It has controlled my symptoms better than any other drug. But the long term usage (8years) has suppressed my adrenals to the point that they make the taper very difficult. I am at 25 mg. and going to try a very slow taper of .5mg/month. Any faster and the withdrawal symptoms are so difficult. I will talk to my doctor this week about whether I need to add methotrexate before attempting the taper. The less prednisone I take the more pain med I require.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Jan 12, 2014 (Started Dec 20, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for inflammation)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (facial swelling/puffiness, weight gain, high blood pressure (hypertension), fluid retention weight gain, bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This has been the only drug that has improved my quality of life. It is the biggest help for pain. BUT...I was put on it and not tapered off until my body had become totally dependent and my adrenal glands suppressed for too long and will not work now. I personally believe I now have adrenal insufficiency from being on prednisone way too long. I am hoping the appt I have with a new Rheumatologist will provide some fresh approach and answers. IF I taper down more than 1/2mg over 1-2 weeks I have a major flare. Can not think, hard to function and move. Right now I am on 20mg.
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 14, 2013 (Started Jun 01, 2013)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Severe (weight gain, mood swings, abdominal bloating)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: I will no longer take Prednisone at any dosage. It makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. Extreme weepiness, depression, anger. For me, it is awful.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Jul 11, 2013 (Started Jun 01, 2013)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Severe (weight gain, mood swings, abdominal bloating)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Cost: < $25 monthly

Jun 1, 2013 (Started Jun 01, 2013)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (weight gain, mood swings, abdominal bloating)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: Wane down carefully as prescribed. I started with 20 mg daily last month, and after 2 weeks, went to 15 mg for 4 days, then 10 mg for 4 days, and I will get to 5 mg.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Apr 19, 2012 (Started Jun 01, 2013)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Severe (weight gain, mood swings, abdominal bloating)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: I hated being on Prednisone, and was never able to see if it had positive effects because I stopped after a couple months. The bloating, weight gain, and moodiness were too much for me to handle. I gained 10-15 pounds while taking it (which is quite extreme on my petite 5'2'' frame). Also, my mood swings were uncontrollable. The drug wasn't for me, and possibly because I was put on too high of a dosage. Because of my bad experience, I never take steroids, unless it is a 1-time injection to help my immune system beat a cold.
  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 7, 2012 (Started Aug 15, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (nausea, constipation)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 10 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly

Aug 24, 2012 (Started Aug 15, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (constipation)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 10 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I started taking 1 pill in the morning and 1 in the evening for 7days. then 1 pill a day until I see my PCP, on day 15 and feeling very nauseated and in alot of pain.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jan 10, 2011 (Started Jul 20, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (facial swelling/puffiness)
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I HAD NO PROBLEM TAKING THE TABLETS APART FROM THEM TASTING DISGUSTING. PREDNISONE HELPED BY TAKING SOME OF THE INFLAMATION AWAY THEREFORE I WASN'T IN AS MUCH PAIN. THE ONLY PROBLEM OR SIDE EFFECT THAT I HAD WAS THAT I GAINED WEIGHT & MY FACE BLOW UP LIKE A PUFFER FISH & LOOKED VERY ROUND. I WAS ON PREDNISONE FOR YEARS WELL SINCE 2007 & IT WAS A GREAT INFLAMATORY BUT I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED TO METHOTREXATE WHICH IS A STEP UP FROM PREDNISONE & ONLY TO BE TAKEN ONCE A WEEK INSTEAD OF EVERY DAY. I AM ON HEAPS OF TABLETS MORNING NOON & NIGHT SO I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR WAS PUT OUT FOR TAKING THESE TABLETS. THEY ARE A VERY TINY TABLET SO THEY WON'T GET STUCK IN YOUR THROAT.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: facial swelling/puffiness
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 6, 2010 (Started Apr 01, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Severe
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 1, 2009 (Started Feb 15, 1994)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (swelling)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 7, 2007 (Started Mar 07, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (weight gain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: I take Prednisone when I flare and taper off of it over 12 days.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: weight gain
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 1, 2006 (Started Jul 01, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Severe (weight gain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: It did not work for me at all. My tongue and face were extremely swollen(my tongue didn't fit in my mouth). A 10 day course did absolutely nothing except gain 20lbs. the swelling went away finally after 2 weeks.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 5, 1999 (Started Feb 05, 1997)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Moderate
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I used predisone b/c I was positive for anti heart block. I used it for my last 2 pregnancies. My children were both born healthy. It deteriorated my bone density but was worth it.
  • 0 helpful marks
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Showing 10 of 10 patient evaluations for Prednisone